Abstract

An approximation to the radiative transfer equation is derived for the propagation of narrow light beams. The main feature is the representation of the power flux in the direction normal to the propagation axis by a diffusion process. Coupled partial differential equations are obtained for the forward and backward flux densities. They are valid in the paraxial approximation. The solutions are written in general analytic formulas applicable to inhomogeneous aerosol media. Comparisons with Monte Carlo calculations and laboratory data reported in a companion paper [ Appl. Opt. 27, 2485 ( 1988)] show very good agreement over a wide range of extinction coefficients, scattering albedos, and particle size parameters.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

Transmitted beam profiles, integrated backscatter, and range-resolved backscatter in inhomogeneous laboratory water droplet clouds

Luc R. Bissonnette, R. B. Smith, A. Ulitsky, J. D. Houston, and Allan I. Carswell
Appl. Opt. 27(12) 2485-2494 (1988)

Beam propagation through slab scattering media in the small angle approximation

Philip L. Walker
Appl. Opt. 26(3) 524-528 (1987)

Effect of thermal blooming on pulse propagation through vaporizing aerosols

Shirish M. Chitanvis and Andrew Zardecki
Appl. Opt. 27(12) 2495-2501 (1988)

Lidar multiple scattering: improvement of Bissonnette's paraxial approximation

Matthias Wiegner and Georg Echle
Appl. Opt. 32(33) 6789-6803 (1993)

Propagation through optically thick media

Anthony P. Ciervo
Appl. Opt. 34(30) 7137-7148 (1995)